“How come you left so early Mr. Stevens?”
“Well Karen, you seemed to be having so much fun with your posse I just thought it was my time to move on. Oh and by the way, we have decided I am now David, not Mr. Stevens.”
Her sweet giggle set both of us at ease as she made her way around the fire pit and sat next to me in the chair by my side.
“I’m glad I found you out here David, I really needed one of our Father/Daughter talks.”
“Is this about boys again dear?”
I was a bit shocked, not by the statements we made to each other, but that Karen had reached for my glass of wine sitting on the table between us. She slowly as if she had much experience with sipping wine placed the glass to her lips and took in a tiny amount of wine.
“Yes I’m having boy problems again. Ted has been flirting with me for months. We have been great friends for years. I’m not interested in anything deeper than that and he does not take my comments to look elsewhere seriously.”
“Sounds to me like you have been handling the situation as well as anyone could be expected to Karen. I’m very proud of the way you are dealing with it.”
“Ted, like all of the boys in my posse have always been friends, we get along great and I want to keep it that way. Once anyone starts to couple up it always ends bad for the rest of us.”
“Karen you are mature beyond your years. But soon other boys are going to be asking out and your posse is just going to have understand that.”
We settled into our Father/Daughter mode for the rest of the evening. Karen made it known she was going to wait until she meets the perfect gentleman before she starting dating. At 16 she was not ready to even ponder the thought.
When it was time for Karen to retire back to her house, we both stood up at the same moment. In the still of the night something new happened. We both reached across with our hands and held our hands together for the first time. That moment was special; we caressed each other in total silence for several minutes.
Karen’s eyes were almost misty; her lips were glossy and full. My mouth went dry not knowing how I should handle such an encountered. Not true, I knew how to handle this situation. I started to walk Karen over to the gate, hand in hand. I could not let her walk home in the dark alone, so we walked together to her front door.
Once there, I could feel a kiss on both our lips, but I was 36 and she was 16. A small tear ran down her cheek as we both clearly understood, a kiss was not ours to share that evening.
Chapter Three — Growing Together
The next two years were wonderful. I did not have to wait for a call or text from Karen. We stayed in contact daily. Sometimes she would call me late at night when she knew I would be settling in just to say goodnight. Sometimes she would playfully add “Daddy” with her unmistakable giggle.
Our Sundays were the highlight of the week. Her Dad had gotten her a used car for her 17th birthday and that gave us more time to chat away; as she would bring it over where we washed both our cars. Our conversations were about everything imaginable. Boys started to become less apart of our talks, which relieved me greatly.
Earlier, I spoke about my Sanctuary and how much I loved being there. What I didn’t mention was off my Master Suite I have a 4-person hot tub hidden behind a 6-foot wooden wall. Complete privacy so I could get home, strip down to nothing, and jump in to unwind. I especially did that when coming home from far away places.
One Sunday Karen showed up in her normal jean shorts (not to short, but still short) and rather than a tank-top she had on a bikini top. Our routine was in place so she jumped out of her car, grabbed the hose and a wash bucket without saying a word.
I think my eyes must have made an impression on her. When she smiled and stared back I broke off the stare and looked directly at the finish on my car.
“Busted! Thought I might be able to grab your attention David.”
“Alright Karen I did take note in the change of your Sunday outfit!”
“So what do you really think?”
“You are not that cute little 12 year girl I found hiding behind the tree years ago!”
“Well I’m going to be 18 in a few months, I’ll ask again when you are not so uptight!”
“God Karen you always make me laugh with all the things you come up with.”
That was not the end of the surprises for me that day. When we finished our cars spit clean and dry, Karen explained to me the reason for her outfit was that she wanted to jump into the hot tub afterwards. This was not the first time I had seen her in her bikini, since I had been to a few more parties at her parent’s house over the past few years. So I agreed and we walked through the house to my Suite and out into the enclosure.
I stepped back into my bathroom to change while Karen rather casually slid her shorts off to reveal what I had seen before, but this time it felt very different. By the time I got on my swimsuit, Karen was already laying back in comfort enjoying the bliss of the aroma I used in the tub as well as the jets gently pulsating on her back.
I climbed in and took position opposite of her and sank into the same delightful trance she was enjoying. Those first 10 minutes were completely void of chatter of any kind; we just relaxed. Somehow our relationship had developed over so many years it just seemed natural to share this experience without any worries. That feeling was built on trust and knowledge we had gained over many conversations.
Once we were totally water logged we got out together and dried off. After Karen wrapped her towel around her body, she leaned over and gave me a familiar kiss on my cheek. I responded in kind and we both gave each other a rather unusual laugh back to one another. We then lounged in the backyard with just our swimsuits on for another couple hours. Once again Karen surprised me when she asked if she could have her own very small glass of wine.
Our afternoon together was peaceful, gentle, and as relaxing as I will ever probably enjoy. Our chats were very deep, even to the point where Karen wanted to discuss our relationship. I was so at ease I had no problem opening up to her for the first time about the feelings I had developed for her.
“Are you truly ready to hear the words I want to express Karen?”
“Yes David, it seems to me like we have been growing up together.”
“I must admit I was once told I am not Boyfriend material. But right now for the first time in my life I understand that is something I would cherish.”
“As soon as you get over our age thing, I will be available to you David.”
“How about a compromise Karen; let’s keep this thought moving forward, you turn 18 in just a few months. I’m sure if we broach the subject with your parents, they will understand.”
“I already have them convinced we are going to start dating on my 18th Birthday!”
“Never under estimate the will of my soon to be girlfriend!”
When it was time for Karen to go home, she stood up and slid on her jean shorts over her bikini bottoms that were now dry and together we walked, hand in hand back to her awaiting car.